'I am appalled by Shabbir Ahmed's silence on the historically documented contributions of all the leaders of the land we now call Bangladesh in his attempt to assassinate the character of Ziaur Rahman in his letter to the NFB dated November 12th, 2009.

Mr. Ahmed is absolutely right in saying that after the independence of Bangladesh, people’s aspiration for a lasting democracy free of illegal power grabbing by dictators did not last long: what greater evidence is there of this fact than the imposition of one-party dictatorship in Bangladesh when Sheikh Mujib, by a constitutional amendment, made Bangladesh a one-party state, banned all other political parties, all but four newspapers, and named himself President. One of its greatest freedom fighters, Abdul hamid Khan Bhashani, who participated in Non-Cooperation movement against the British imperialism under the leadership of Deshbandhu C R Das and an outspoken critic of the then West Pakistani military junta, warned Sheikh Mujibur Rahman against his move towards a one party state and declaring himself as life-long president. Bhashani, the firebrand activists of Jukta Front (along with A K Fazlul Haque’s Krishak Sramik Party and Suhrawardy’s Awami League) who spearheaded the opposition to West Pakistan dominated politics could not believe that a person like Sheikh Mujib who fought all his life for a multi-party democracy could do that.

Today, instead of paying homage to leaders like Bhashani, we see that the plaque placed in front of the Novo-theatre in Dhaka replaced in the dead of night only to expose the pettiness of a mindset that wants to grab all the glory of the independence of Bangladesh for which people from every strata of society gave laid down their lives. Likewise, many of Mr. Ahmed's claims against Ziaur Rahman are nothing but an attempt to wipe out the contributions of a far sighted and pragmatic nationalist leader who started the man-power export from Bangladesh – an effort that is paying diviidends to the tune of $10bn per annum to the economy of the country.

I think both historical and present day facts speak for themselves. The people of Bangladesh have always had leaders representing their wish to live with the full dignity and rights as free citizens of the globe. These leaders played their part in speaking out against oppression – be that foreign or native and each had their own distinct way of practicing their philosophical beliefs be that progressive, conservative, leftist, rightist, socialist or capitalist. As a people, Bangladeshis have always tolerated multiple views. What they have spoken out against, time and time again, is any attempt to quash their right to personal, economic, religious and cultural freedom. To deny these simple truths about their taste for multi-party democracy shows nothing but the shameful height of dishonesty on part of Mr. Ahmed and an insult to the intellect of Bangladeshis who have many times demonstrated their ability to expose the true faces of oppressors regardless of their ties to religion or family ties.

No matter what the likes of Mr. Ahmed try to portray, they must never forget that the people of Bangladesh have a right express differing views. In order for his views to be taken seriously, Mr. Ahmed must show the minimum degree of respect and tolerance for the diversity of thought in a nation of some 150 million people. It is time Bangladesh, a country with limited resources, stopped wasting time trying to re-write history every time the political baton gets passed from the family of Shiekh Mujibur Rahman to the family of Ziaur Rahman and so on and on. In the last decade and a half all we have seen the systematic politicization of every state organ be that healthcare, education, civil service or law enforcement.

Instead of members of parliament (at least we now have a multi-party electoral process!) spending time to bring in legislation to benefit their constituents, we see them giving themselves more and more benefits and ways to loot money from the tax-payer. Instead of focusing on national issues we see them embroiled in seeking revenge and making the most of their personal business interests; we see ministers shamelessly declaring that their party workers have a right to government (read tax payer's money and foreign loans) contracts for services renered to the party in power. We see newer and novel ways of institutionalizing corruption instead of strong visionary leadership.

Therefore, my advise to Mr. Ahmed would be to let the truth stand the test of time and let it speak for itself. Efforts should be focused on teaching tolerance for differences, cultivation of independent thought, respect for human values and the power of unity as a nation under the free will of its individuals. Bangladesh should focus on institutionally distributing political power through decentralizing government and sharing wealth by lifting the barriers to entrepreneurship in order to bring greater parity amongst its citizens so it can enjoy the strength of a well balanced middle-class nation. At the end of the day, I strongly believe that is exactly what all great leaders of the land would have really wanted.

Shabbir A. Bashar, PhD
Vancouver, USA
E Mail: shabbir_bashar@yahoo.com